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Abstract:

An information processing apparatus includes, a screen switching input
unit to input an instruction for switching between a screen displayed on
a first display unit and a screen displayed on a second display unit, and
a display control unit to display, in response to input of the switching
instruction, the screen displayed on the first display unit on the second
display unit and disabling displaying of the screen displayed on the
second display unit before input of the switching instruction on the
first display unit.

Claims:

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a screen switching
input unit to input a switching instruction to switch between a screen
displayed on a first display unit and a screen displayed on a second
display unit; and a display control unit to display, in response to the
switching instruction, the screen displayed on the first display unit on
the second display unit and disabling displaying of the screen displayed
on the second display unit before input of the switching instruction on
the first display unit.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
first display unit is a television.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
second display unit is wirelessly connected to the display control unit.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
second display unit includes a touch panel.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
screen switching input unit is wirelessly connected to the display
control unit, and wherein the second display unit and the screen
switching input unit are arranged in a casing.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
display control unit comprising: a pointer control unit to disable
movement of a pointer on the second display unit in a case where a screen
to receive an operation performed with a touch panel is displayed on the
second display unit.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
pointer control unit enables the movement of the pointer on the second
display unit upon receiving the screen switching instruction with the
screen to receive the operation performed with the touch panel being
displayed on the second display unit.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a return instruction input unit to display an operation
screen of the information processing apparatus on the first display unit
when the first display unit serves as a main screen and the second
display unit serves as a sub screen and to input a return instruction to
return to an initial state in which a specified screen is displayed on
the second display unit; a determining unit to determine, in response to
the return instruction, whether the first display unit is turned on and
whether input of the first display unit is set to input from the
information processing apparatus; a power-on unit to turn on the first
display unit when the determining unit determines that the first display
unit is turned off; and an input change unit to change the input of the
first display unit to the input from the information processing apparatus
when it is determined that the input of the first display unit is not set
to the input from the information processing apparatus, wherein the
display control unit returns, when the determining unit determines that
the first display unit is turned on and the input of the first display
unit is set to the input from the information processing apparatus or
when at least one of the power-on unit and the input change unit creates
a state where the first display unit is turned on and the input of the
first display unit is set to the input from the information processing
apparatus, the screens to the initial state by displaying the operation
screen of the information processing apparatus on the first display unit
serving as the main screen and displaying the specified screen on the
second display unit serving as the sub display.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the
display control unit moves, when the screen to receive the operation
performed with the touch panel is displayed on the second display unit as
the specified screen in response to input of the return instruction, an
activated application displayed on the second display unit at the time of
reception of input of the return instruction to the first display unit.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
each of the first display unit and the second display unit has a
substantially rectangular screen, and wherein the display control unit
displays the screen so that a coordinate on the screen of the first
display unit and a coordinate on the screen of the second display unit
are continuous and a short-axis-direction coordinate on the screen of the
first display unit is larger than a short-axis-direction coordinate on
the screen of the second display unit.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
the display control unit displays the screen in the initial state so that
a center of a long-axis-direction coordinate of the first display unit
matches a center of the short-axis-direction of the coordinate of the
second display unit.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
the return instruction input unit is wirelessly connected to the display
control unit, and wherein the second display unit and the return
instruction input unit are arranged in a casing.

13. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, the
method comprising: receiving input of a switching instruction to switch
between a screen displayed on a first display and a screen displayed on a
second display; displaying the screen displayed on the first display on
the second display; and disabling displaying of the screen displayed on
the second display before input of the switching instruction on the first
display.

14. The method of controlling the information processing apparatus
according to claim 13, the method further comprising: disabling, when a
screen to receive an operation with a touch panel is displayed on the
second display, movement of a pointer on the second display.

15. The method of controlling the information processing apparatus
according to claim 14, wherein movement of the pointer on the second
display is enabled in response to the switching instruction with the
movement of the pointer on the second display being disabled and the
screen to receive the operation performed with the touch panel being
displayed on the second display.

16. A computer-readable recording medium recording a control program
executed by an information processing apparatus, the control program
causing the information processing apparatus to execute a method, the
method comprising: receiving input of a switching instruction to switch
between a screen displayed on a first display and a screen displayed on a
second display; displaying the screen displayed on the first display on
the second display; and disabling displaying of the screen displayed on
the second display before input of the switching instruction on the first
display.

17. The recording medium according to claim 16, the method further
comprising: disabling, when a screen to receive an operation with a touch
panel is displayed on the second display, movement of a pointer on the
second display.

18. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein movement of the
pointer on the second display is enabled in response to the switching
instruction with the movement of the pointer on the second display being
disabled and the screen to receive the operation performed with the touch
panel being displayed on the second display.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to Japanese
Patent Application No. 2010-146692, filed on Jun. 28, 2010, and
incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Recently, the number of media distributing various movies, such as
a movie site on the Internet, has been increasing. Additionally, there is
an increasing demand for viewing movies downloaded onto personal
computers (PCs) on media with large screens such as televisions (TVs).
Thus, opportunities for displaying operation screens of the PCs on TVs
having large display screens are also increasing.

[0004] When users want to view videos, such as programs sent from
broadcasting stations, these videos are displayed on the TVs that may be
utilized as the operation screens of the PCs in this way. Since the TVs
are not utilized as the operation screens of the PCs in such a case, the
operation screens of the PCs have to be displayed on an auxiliary screen,
such as a small monitor, to operate the PCs. Additionally, when users
retrieve a movie and then show the movie to their family, the retrieval
operation is not necessarily shown to all of the family. Thus, the users
perform the retrieval with the auxiliary screen and then display only the
movie on the TVs after finding an intended movie. When the PCs are
connected to the TVs and the TVs are set to display the operation screens
of the PCs thereon, the TVs connected to the PCs and the auxiliary screen
are often switched between for use. Hereinafter, a screen used as a main
screen for performing operations of the PCs is referred to as a primary
display, whereas a screen used as a sub screen for performing the
operations of the PCs is referred to as a secondary display.

[0005] A technique is provided that displays, on an auxiliary screen, a
window that is hidden when an active window is displayed in full-screen
on the primary display (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2002-175173). Additionally, a technique is provided that
moves, in response to a specified operation performed with a plurality of
windows being displayed on one display, the screens other than the one
needed to another display (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 04-015688).

SUMMARY

[0006] According to an aspect of the invention, an information processing
apparatus includes a screen switching input unit to input an instruction
to switch between a screen displayed on a first display unit and a screen
displayed on a second display unit, and a display control unit to
display, in response to the switching instruction, the screen displayed
on the first display unit on the second display unit and disabling
displaying of the screen displayed on the second display unit before
input of the switching instruction on the first display unit.

[0007] The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and
attained by at least the elements, features, and combinations
particularly pointed out in the claims.

[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and
are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a
system including an information processing apparatus.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system including an information
processing apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a hardware configuration of a wireless
device according to the first embodiment.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a state in which a touch-panel
screen is displayed on a display unit of the wireless device.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a diagram of a transition of a screen resulting from
screen switching.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a diagram of a hardware configuration of a main body
according to the first embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of screen switching processing from a first
or third state to a second or fourth state in the information processing
apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0016]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing to switch between a primary
display and a secondary display.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a flowchart of screen switching processing from the
second or fourth state to the first or third state in the information
processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a system including an information
processing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a hardware configuration of a wireless
device according to the second embodiment.

[0020]FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example of a screen displaying a message
saying that utilization of a home button is disabled.

[0021]FIG. 13 is a flowchart of processing performed in response to
pressing of a home button.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Embodiments of an information processing apparatus, a method of
controlling the information processing apparatus, and a recording medium
storing a program for controlling the information processing apparatus
disclosed in this application will be described in detail below based on
the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the
information processing apparatus, the method of controlling the
information processing apparatus, and the recording medium storing the
program for controlling the information processing apparatus disclosed in
this application are not limited by the following embodiments.

First Embodiment

[0023]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a
system including an information processing apparatus. As illustrated in
FIG. 1, the system including the information processing apparatus
according to this embodiment includes a main body 1 formed by a casing
including a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a hard disk, a
television (TV) 2, a wireless device 3, and a wireless keyboard/mouse 4.
Here, the main body 1 serves as an example of the information processing
apparatus. In this embodiment, a description will be given based on an
assumption that a personal computer (PC) serves as the information
processing apparatus.

[0024] The main body 1 is connected to the TV 2 with a cable. The main
body 1 is also wirelessly connected to the wireless device 3 and the
wireless keyboard/mouse 4. The main body 1 wirelessly exchanges data with
the wireless device 3 and the wireless keyboard/mouse 4.

[0025] Details of the system including the information processing
apparatus according to the embodiment will now be described with
reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system including
the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0026] A description will be first given for the TV 2. As illustrated in
FIG. 2, the TV 2 includes a display unit 21, an input switching unit 22,
and a display control unit 23. In this embodiment, the TV 2 includes a
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) terminal (not illustrated).
The TV 2 is connected to the main body 1 via the HDMI. Furthermore, in
this embodiment, the TV 2 may be controlled with a HDMI-CEC (consumer
electronics control). Since the TV 2 may be controlled with a HDMI-CEC,
the TV 2 may receive control operations, such as power-on/off and input
switching, from the main body 1. Additionally, because the TV 2 may be
controlled with a HDMI-CEC, the main body 1 may grasp a source of an
image signal that the TV 2 uses to display images on the display unit 21.
Although using a HDMI for connection between the TV 2 and the main body 1
has been described in this embodiment, a digital visual interface (DVI)
may be used. Furthermore, the TV 2 exchanges a HotPlugDetect signal with
the main body 1. The Hot Plug Detect signal is for determining whether a
cable to the TV 2 is connected.

[0027] The display unit 21 may be, for example, a liquid crystal screen.
The display unit 21 also includes a plurality of input paths for
receiving video signals to be displayed. In this embodiment, one of the
input paths is assigned to input from the main body 1. When the input of
the display unit 21 is set to the input from the main body 1, the display
unit 21 may display an image of software activated in the main body 1.
The software displayed in the main body 1 may be, for example, document
editor software and spreadsheet software. Additionally, in this
embodiment, one of the remaining input paths is assigned to input a TV
video. Here, the TV video indicates a video distributed from a
broadcasting station. That is, when the TV video is displayed on the
display unit 21, the TV 2 is used to view the TV program. Hereinafter,
changing the input path of the display unit 21 may be referred to as
changing input of the display unit 21. The display unit 21 serves as an
example of a first display unit.

[0028] An operator specifies a device for inputting a signal to the
display unit 21 using an input switching button (not illustrated) of the
TV 2. Here, the inputting device is, for example, the main body 1 or the
display control unit 23 of the TV 2 described below. Upon receiving the
specification of the device for inputting the signal to the display unit
21 from the operator, the input switching unit 22 switches the input of
the display unit 21. For example, when the operator specifies a TV video
supplied from the display control unit 23, the input switching unit 22
switches the input of the display unit 21 to the input from the display
control unit 23. Additionally, when the operator specifies input of an
operation screen of a personal computer (PC) supplied from the main body
1, the input switching unit 22 switches the input of the display unit 21
to the input from a display control unit 11 of the main body 1.

[0029] The display control unit 23 causes the display unit 21 to display a
TV video received from a broadcasting station or the like.

[0030] The wireless device 3 will now be described. The wireless device 3
includes a display unit 31, a display control unit 32, a wireless
communication control unit 33, and a screen switching input unit 34.

[0031] The wireless communication control unit 33 wirelessly communicates
with a wireless communication control unit 12 of the main body 1. In this
embodiment, the wireless communication control unit 33 performs
communication using a wireless universal serial bus (USB). Signals are
exchanged between each unit of the wireless device 3 and the
corresponding unit of the main body 1 through the wireless communication
control unit 33. However, for ease of explanation, a description will be
given below as if signals were directly exchanged between each unit of
the wireless device 3 and the corresponding unit of the main body 1.

[0032] The display unit 31 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). The
display unit 31 also includes a touch panel 35. The touch panel 35
detects a touch operation with a finger of a user or a touch pen. An
operator may perform an input operation using the touch panel 35. The
display unit 31 displays a touch-panel screen for an operation though the
touch panel 35 or a PC operation screen other than the touch-panel
screen. Hereinafter, the PC operation screen other than the touch-panel
screen is simply referred to as a "PC operation screen". When the PC
operation screen is displayed on the display unit 31, the operator may
move a pointer using the touch panel 35. The display unit 31 serves as an
example of a second display unit.

[0033] The display control unit 32 receives data from the display control
unit 11 of the main body 1. The display control unit 32 then performs
image conversion, such as positioning of the received data for the
display unit 31. The display control unit 32 displays the PC operation
screen on the display unit 31. The display control unit 32 also outputs
input supplied from the touch panel 35 to the display control unit 11 and
an integrated control unit 13 of the main body 1.

[0034] The screen switching input unit 34 includes a button for inputting
a screen switching instruction. The operator presses the button of the
screen switching input unit 34, whereby the screen switching instruction
is sent to the display control unit 11 and the integrated control unit 13
of the main body 1.

[0035] A hardware configuration of the wireless device 3 will now be
described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a hardware
configuration of the wireless device 3 according to the first embodiment.
The wireless device 3 includes a display unit 302, such as a liquid
crystal display (LCD). This display unit 302 has a function of the
display unit 31 in FIG. 2. The display unit 302 includes a touch panel
301. This touch panel 301 has a substantially similar function of the
touch panel 35 in FIG. 2. The touch panel 301 is connected to a touch
panel controller 303. The touch panel controller 303 controls input from
the touch panel 301. Additionally, the display unit 302 is connected to
an image converting unit 305. The image converting unit 305 is further
connected to a memory 304. The image converting unit 305 converts an
image sent from the main body 1 before the converted image is displayed
on the display unit 302. At this time, the image converting unit 305
temporarily stores the image in the memory 304 as needed. A combination
of the touch panel controller 303, the memory 304, and the image
converting unit 305 has a substantially similar function of the display
control unit 32 in FIG. 2. The display control unit 32 causes the display
unit 302 to display received data under control of a CPU. A USB terminal
307 is for connecting the wireless device 3 to the main body 1 with a USB
cable. A wireless USB 306 wirelessly communicates with the main body 1
through an antenna 308. This wireless USB 306 has a function of the
wireless communication control unit 33 in FIG. 2. A screen switching
button 315 is connected to a button event notifying unit 314. If the
operator presses the screen switching button 315, the button event
notifying unit 314 determines that a screen switching instruction is
input and then outputs the screen switching instruction to the main body
1. The screen switching button 315 and the button event notifying unit
314 have a function of the screen switching input unit 34 in FIG. 2. A
USB hub 313 outputs the input from the touch panel controller 303 to the
main body 1. The USB hub 313 also outputs an image signal supplied from
the main body 1 to the image converting unit 305. The USB hub 313 further
outputs the screen switching instruction supplied from the button event
notifying unit 314 to the main body 1. A battery 312 supplies power to
each unit of the wireless device 3. A power switch 311 is for turning
on/off the wireless device 3. A power control unit 309 controls power
supply from the battery 312 in response to power-on/off through the power
switch 311. Additionally, a DC-IN 310 is an input terminal for receiving
power from outside.

[0036] An appearance of the wireless device 3 and an example of the
touch-panel screen will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4
is a plan view representing a state in which the touch-panel screen is
displayed on the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3. In this
embodiment, an application launcher for managing activation of an
application is used as the touch-panel screen.

[0037] The display unit 31 includes the touch panel 35. Referring to FIG.
4, the touch-panel screen is displayed on the display unit 31. The
display unit 31 displays the application launcher. A FIG. 312 that is
arranged on the application launcher displayed on the display unit 31 and
is enclosed by a small rectangle indicates an application activation
button. The operator physically presses the FIG. 312 with their hand,
thereby inputting an application activation instruction for the FIG. 312.
Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a screen switching input unit 34
is provided separately from the display unit 31.

[0038] The wireless keyboard/mouse 4 will now be described. The wireless
keyboard/mouse 4 includes a wireless communication control unit 41 as
well as a keyboard and a mouse.

[0039] The wireless communication control unit 41 wirelessly communicates
with the wireless communication control unit 12 of the main body 1. In
this embodiment, the wireless communication control unit 41 performs
communication using a wireless USB.

[0040] The wireless keyboard/mouse 4 outputs information input through the
keyboard or the mouse to the display control unit 11 or the integrated
control unit 13 of the main body 1 through the wireless communication
control unit 41.

[0041] The main body 1 of the PC will now be described. As illustrated in
FIG. 2, the main body 1 includes the display control unit 11, the
wireless communication control unit 12, and the integrated control unit
13.

[0042] The wireless communication control unit 12 wirelessly transmits and
receives data to and from the wireless device 3 and the wireless
keyboard/mouse 4. More specifically, the wireless communication control
unit 12 receives a wireless signal from the wireless device 3 and the
wireless keyboard/mouse 4 and then outputs the wireless signal to the
display control unit 11 and the integrated control unit 13. The wireless
communication control unit 12 also wirelessly outputs a signal supplied
from the display control unit 11 and the integrated control unit 13 to
the wireless device 3 and the wireless keyboard/mouse 4. Although signals
are actually exchanged between each unit of the main body 1 and the
corresponding unit of the wireless device 3 and the wireless
keyboard/mouse 4 through the wireless communication control unit 12 in
this way, a description will be given as if signals were directly
exchanged between each unit of the corresponding unit of the main body 1
and each unit of the wireless device 3 and the wireless keyboard/mouse 4,
for ease of explanation.

[0043] The display control unit 11 includes a pointer control unit 111 and
a screen switching unit 112. The display control unit 11 also prestores a
format of the touch-panel screen.

[0044] The screen switching unit 112 receives, from the integrated control
unit 13 described below, information regarding whether the TV 2 is
connected via the HDMI and information regarding whether HDMI-CEC setting
is enabled. When the HDMI-CEC setting is enabled for the TV 2, the screen
switching unit 112 determines whether the TV 2 is turned on and the input
of the display unit 21 is set to input from the main body 1 upon
receiving the screen switching instruction from the wireless device 3.
Here, in this embodiment, the input state of the display unit 21 may be
acquired from the integrated control unit 13 to be described later. If
the TV 2 is off, the screen switching unit 112 turns on the TV 2.
Additionally, if the input of the display unit 21 is not set to the input
from the main body 1, the screen switching unit 112 changes the input of
the display unit 21 to the input from the main body 1. In this way, the
screen switching unit 112 may construct a multi-display environment
allowing the main body 1 to utilize a plurality of screens.

[0045] When the TV 2 is turned on and the input of the display unit 21 is
set to the input from the main body 1, the screen switching unit 112
switches between setting of the primary display and the secondary
display. More specifically, when the display unit 21 and the display unit
31 are set as the primary display and the secondary display,
respectively, the screen switching unit 112 sets the display unit 31 as
the primary display and the display unit 21 as the secondary display.
Furthermore, the screen switching unit 112 switches between a screen
displayed on the display unit 21 of the TV 2 and a screen displayed on
the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3. More specifically, the
screen switching unit 112 displays, on the display unit 31, the screen
displayed on the display unit 21. The screen switching unit 112 further
determines whether the screen displayed on the display unit 31 is the
touch-panel screen. If the screen displayed on the display unit 31 is not
the touch-panel screen, the screen switching unit 112 displays, on the
display unit 21, the screen having been displayed on the display unit 31.
In contrast, if the screen displayed on the display unit 31 is the
touch-panel screen, the screen switching unit 112 disables displaying of
the touch-panel screen on the display unit 21. The screen switching unit
112 then displays the PC operation screen on the display unit 21.

[0046] A reason why the screen switching unit 112 disables displaying of
the touch-panel screen on the display unit 21 will now be described. The
display unit 21 does not include a touch panel. Additionally, the
operator is unable to perform an input operation using a pointer on the
touch-panel screen. When the touch-panel screen having been displayed on
the display unit 31 is displayed on the display unit 21, the operator is
unable to perform an operation using the screen displayed on the display
unit 21. Accordingly, when the touch-panel screen is displayed on the
display unit 31, the screen switching unit 112 disables displaying of the
screen having been displayed on the display unit 31 on the display unit
21 in response to the screen switching instruction to avoid a
circumstance where the operator is unable to perform the operation using
the screen of the display unit 21.

[0047] On the other hand, when the screen switching instruction for
changing the display unit 31 to the secondary display is input with the
HDMI-CEC setting being disabled in the TV 2, the screen switching unit
112 displays on the display unit 31 information saying that switching is
not permitted. Additionally, when the screen switching instruction for
changing the display unit 31 to the primary display is input with the
HDMI-CEC setting being disabled in the TV 2, the screen switching unit
112 changes the display unit 31 to the primary display and just displays
the PC operation screen on the display unit 31. Conversely, when the
screen switching instruction for changing the display unit 31 to the
secondary display with the HDMI-CEC setting being disabled for the TV 2,
the screen switching unit 112 displays on the display unit 31 information
saying that switching is not permitted.

[0048] In response to input from the wireless keyboard/mouse 4, the
pointer control unit 111 controls a position of a pointer displayed on
the screen of the display unit 21 of the TV 2, such as moving the
pointer. Additionally, when the PC operation screen is displayed on the
display unit 31 of the wireless device 3, the pointer control unit 111
controls a position of a pointer displayed on the screen of the display
unit 31 in response to the input from the wireless device 3 or the
wireless keyboard/mouse 4. In contrast, when the touch-panel screen is
displayed on the display unit 31, the pointer control unit 111 controls
so that the pointer does not move on the screen of the display unit 31.
Furthermore, when the screen displayed on the display unit 31 is changed
from the PC operation screen to the touch-panel screen, the pointer
control unit 111 moves the pointer having been displayed on the display
unit 31 to the screen of the display unit 21.

[0049] Transition of a screen from each state resulting from screen
switching will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a
diagram illustrating a transition of the screen resulting from screen
switching. Each state of the display screen will be described first.

[0050] In a first state 501, the display unit 21 is the primary display
serving as a main screen of the PC and the display control unit 11
displays the PC operation screen on the display unit 21. Additionally,
the display unit 31 is the secondary display serving as a sub screen of
the PC and the display control unit 11 displays a touch-panel screen
allowing operators to operate the PC using a touch panel on the display
unit 31. In the first state 501, the display control unit 11 causes the
display unit 21 and the display unit 31 to display screens independently
from each other.

[0051] In a second state 502, the display unit 21 is the secondary display
and the display control unit 11 displays the PC operation screen on the
display unit 21. Additionally, the display unit 31 is the primary screen
and the display control unit 11 displays the PC operation screen on the
display unit 31. In the second state 502, the display control unit 11
causes the display unit 21 and the display unit 31 to display a screen in
cooperation with each other. That is, the display unit 21 and the display
unit 31 display one image with two screens thereof. For example, a mouse
pointer may be seamlessly moved from the display unit 21 to the display
unit 31.

[0052] In a third state 503, the display unit 21 is the primary display
and the display control unit 11 displays the PC operation screen on the
display unit 21. Additionally, the display unit 31 is the secondary
display and the display control unit 11 displays the PC operation screen
on the display unit 3. Just like the second state 502, in the third state
503, the display control unit 11 causes the display unit 21 and the
display unit 31 to display a screen in cooperation with each other. That
is, states of the screen on the display unit 21 and the display unit 31
are switched in the second state 502 and the third state 503.

[0053] In a fourth state 504, the display unit 21 is the secondary display
and the display control unit 11 does not display a screen on the display
unit 21 since the TV 2 is displaying a TV video or is turned off. Here,
displaying of the TV video on the display unit 21 is performed by the
display control unit 23 included in the TV 2 as described later.
Additionally, the display unit 31 is the primary display and the display
control unit 11 displays the PC operation screen on the display unit 31.

[0054] Transition of the screen from each state to another state will now
be described.

[0055] In response to input of the screen switching instruction in the
first state 501, the screen switching unit 112 sets the display unit 31
and the display unit 21 as the primary display and the secondary display,
respectively. The screen switching unit 112 also displays the PC
operation screen having been displayed on the display unit 21 on the
display unit 31. Furthermore, the screen switching unit 112 disables
displaying of the touch-panel screen having been displayed on the display
unit 31 on the display unit 21. The screen switching unit 112 then
displays the PC operation screen on the display unit 21. Here, when
displaying of the touch-panel screen having been displayed on the display
unit 31 on the display unit 21 is disabled, no image is displayed on the
display unit 21 after the operator inputs the screen switching
instruction. In this case, the operator is unable to determine whether
the display unit 21 has malfunctioned or displaying is disabled. Thus, in
this embodiment, the PC operation screen is displayed on the display unit
21 to allow the operator to grasp that no failure has occurred. However,
allowing the operator to grasp occurrence of the failure is low, the
screen switching unit 112 may simply disable displaying of the
touch-panel screen having been displayed on the display unit 31 on the
display unit 21. The screen switching unit 112 then stores that the
touch-panel screen is displayed on the display unit 31 before the screen
switching. In this case, the pointer control unit 111 controls the
pointer so that the pointer does not move to the screen of the display
unit 31 in the first state 501. In response to input of the screen
switching instruction, the pointer control unit 111 controls the pointer
so that the pointer moves on the screen of the display unit 31. In this
way, the display control unit 11 executes transition 511 of the screen
from the first state 501 to the second state 502.

[0056] Upon receiving input of the screen switching instruction in the
third state 503, the screen switching unit 112 sets the display unit 31
and the display unit 21 as the primary display and the secondary display,
respectively. The screen switching unit 112 then displays the PC
operation screen having been displayed on the display unit 21 on the
display unit 31. Furthermore, the screen switching unit 112 displays the
PC operation screen having been displayed on the display unit 31 on the
display unit 21. In this case, since the screen having been displayed on
the display unit 31 is not the touch-panel screen, displaying the screen
as it is does not cause any problem. The screen switching unit 112 then
stores information that the PC operation screen is displayed on the
display unit 31 before the screen switching. In this way, the screen
switching unit 112 executes transition 514 of the screen from the third
state 503 to the second state 502.

[0057] Conversely, upon receiving the screen switching instruction in the
second state 502, the screen switching unit 112 sets the display unit 31
and the display unit 21 as the secondary display and the primary screen,
respectively. The screen switching unit 112 determines whether the screen
having been displayed on the display unit 21 before the last screen
switching stored therein is the touch-panel screen or the PC operation
screen.

[0058] If the screen having been displayed on the display unit 21 before
the last screen switching is the touch-panel screen, the screen switching
unit 112 moves an application displayed on the display unit 31 to the
display unit 21. The screen switching unit 112 also displays the PC
operation screen having been displayed on the display unit 21 on the
display unit 31. Furthermore, the screen switching unit 112 displays the
touch-panel screen on the display unit 31 using the format of the
touch-panel screen stored in the display control unit 11. In this case,
the pointer control unit 111 controls the pointer so that the pointer may
move on the screen of the display unit 31 in the second state 502. In
response to input of the screen switching instruction, the pointer
control unit 111 controls the pointer so that the pointer does not move
on the screen of the display unit 31. In this way, the display control
unit 11 executes transition 512 of the screen from the second state 502
to the first state 501.

[0059] In contrast, if the screen having been displayed on the display
unit 21 before the last screen switching is the PC operation screen, the
screen switching unit 112 displays the PC operation screen having been
displayed on the display unit 21 on the display unit 31. Furthermore, the
screen switching unit 112 displays the PC operation screen having been
displayed on the display unit 31 on the display unit 21. In this way, the
display control unit 11 executes transition 513 of the screen from the
second state 502 to the third state 503.

[0060] A description will now be given for a case in which the display
control unit 11 receives an instruction for changing a screen of the
display unit 31 to the PC operation screen from the wireless device 3 or
the wireless keyboard/mouse 4 in the first state 501. In this case, the
display control unit 11 displays on the display unit 31 the PC operation
screen that operates in cooperation with the PC operation screen
displayed on the display unit 21. In this case, the pointer control unit
111 controls the pointer so that the pointer does not move on the screen
of the display unit 31 in the first state 501. In response to the
instruction for changing the screen of the display unit 31 to the PC
operation screen, the pointer control unit 111 controls the pointer so
that the pointer moves on the screen of the display unit 31. In this way,
the display control unit 11 executes transition 515 of the screen from
the first state 501 to the third state 503.

[0061] Conversely, a description will be given for a case in which the
display control unit 11 receives an instruction for changing the screen
of the display unit 31 to the touch-panel screen from the wireless device
3 or the wireless keyboard/mouse 4 in the third state 503. First, the
display control unit 11 moves an application displayed on the display
unit 31 to the display unit 21. The display control unit 11 then displays
the touch-panel screen on the display unit 31. In this case, the pointer
control unit 111 controls the pointer so that the pointer may move on the
screen of the display unit 31 in the third state 503. In response to the
screen switching instruction, the pointer control unit 111 controls the
pointer so that the pointer does not move on the screen of the display
unit 31. In this way, the display control unit 11 executes transition 516
of the screen from the third state 503 to the first state 501.

[0062] A description will now be give for a case in which the operator
operates the TV 2 in the second state 502 to switch the screen displayed
on the display unit 21 to the TV video or to turn off the TV 2. When the
screen displayed on the display unit 21 is switched to the TV video after
the operator operates the TV 2, the display control unit 11 keeps
transmitting the PC operation screen to the display unit 21. However, the
input of the TV 2 is set to the TV video, the output from the display
control unit 11 is not displayed on the display unit 21. Additionally,
when the operator turns off the TV 2, the display control unit 11 keeps
transmitting the PC operation screen to the display unit 21. However,
since the TV 2 is turned off, the output from the display control unit 11
is not displayed on the display unit 21. In this way, transition 517 from
the second state 502 to the fourth state 504 is performed in response to
the operation of the TV 2 independently from the display control unit 11.
Here, in this embodiment, even when the screen of the display unit 21 is
switched to the TV video or the TV 2 is turned off, the display control
unit 23 keeps transmitting the PC operation screen to the display unit 21
to maintain the operation state of the PC. However, the display control
unit 23 may be configured not to transmit the PC operation screen to the
display unit 21 to avoid a circumstance where the PC operation screen is
hidden by the TV video. In this case, the display control unit 23
preferably moves an application having been displayed on the display unit
21 to the display unit 31.

[0063] A description will now be given for a case in which the operator
operates the TV 2 in the fourth state 504 to switch the screen displayed
on the display unit 21 to the PC operation screen. More specifically,
switching of the display screen of the display unit 21 to the PC
operation screen indicates changing the input of the TV 2 to the input
from the main body 1. In this embodiment, the display control unit 11
keeps transmitting the PC operation screen to the display unit 21 in the
fourth state 504. Accordingly, when the input of the TV 2 is changed to
the input from the main body 1, the PC operation screen is displayed on
the display unit 21. In this way, transition 518 from the fourth state
504 to the second state 502 is executed in response to the operation of
the TV 2 independently from the display control unit 11.

[0064] The integrated control unit 13 performs various kinds of processing
executed in the main body 1, such as execution of a program. For example,
the integrated control unit 13 executes processing in response to input
from the wireless device 3 or the wireless keyboard/mouse 4. When
displaying a screen on the display unit 21 or when the display unit 31 is
used during various kinds of processing, the integrated control unit 13
causes the display unit 21 or the display unit 31 to display the screen
through the display control unit 11.

[0065] The integrated control unit 13 also determines whether a
HotPlugDetect signal may be exchanged with the TV 2, i.e., whether the
HotPlugDetect signal indicates Connect. If the HotPlugDetect signal does
not indicate Connect, the integrated control unit 13 transmits to the
screen switching unit 112 information indicating that connection to the
TV 2 is disconnected. The integrated control unit 13 also determines
whether the TV 2 is connected via a HDMI. If the TV 2 is connected via a
HDMI, the integrated control unit 13 determines whether the HDMI-CEC
setting is enabled in the TV 2. The integrated control unit 13 then
transmits to the screen switching unit 112 information regarding the
HDMI-CEC setting of the TV 2. Furthermore, the integrated control unit 13
monitors a command regarding an HDMI-CEC routing, thereby acquiring an
input path to the display unit 21 of the TV 2.

[0066] A hardware configuration of the main body 1 will now be described
with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram of a hardware configuration
of the main body 1 according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in
FIG. 6, the main body 1 according to the embodiment includes a central
processing unit (CPU) 101, a memory 102, a hard disk drive (HDD) 103, a
wireless USB 104, an antenna 105, an HDMI-CEC control unit 106, and an
HDMI terminal 107. The memory 102 and the HDD 103 serve as a storage
unit. The CPU 101 performs various kinds of processing, such as execution
of a program, using the memory 102 and the HDD 103. The CPU 101 also
transmits and receives data to and from the wireless device 3 and the
wireless keyboard/mouse 4 through the wireless USB 104 and the antenna
105. Here, a combination of the CPU 101, the memory 102, and the HDD 103
has a function of the display control unit 11 and the integrated control
unit 13 in FIG. 2. Additionally, the wireless USB 104 has a function of
the wireless communication control unit 12 in FIG. 2. The HDMI terminal
107 is a connection terminal to HDMI devices. In this embodiment, the TV
2 is connected to the main body 1 through this HDMI terminal 107. The CPU
101 transmits information, such as video and audio, to the TV 2 through
the HDMI terminal 107. The HDMI-CEC control unit 106 converts an
instruction for controlling the TV 2 output by the CPU 101 into one based
on the CEC standard and outputs the converted instruction to the TV 2
through the HDMI terminal 107. The HDMI-CEC control unit 106 also
converts a control signal from the TV 2 and outputs the converted control
signal to the CPU 101.

[0067] Screen switching processing from the first or third state to the
second or fourth state in the information processing apparatus according
to the embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7
is a flowchart of the screen switching processing from the first or third
state to the second or fourth state in the information processing
apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0069] If the TV 2 is connected via a HDMI (YES in OPERATION S101), the
integrated control unit 13 determines whether the HDMI-CEC setting of the
TV 2 is enabled (OPERATION S102). If the HDMI-CEC setting is enabled (YES
in OPERATION S102), the integrated control unit 13 sets a flag indicating
the HDMI-CEC setting, i.e., "HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag", to 1 (OPERATION
S103). The integrated control unit 13 then monitors a common regarding an
HDMI-CEC routing (OPERATION S104). In this way, the integrated control
unit 13 grasps whether the input of the TV 2 is set to the PC operation
screen.

[0070] In contrast, if the TV 2 is not connected via a HDMI (NO in
OPERATION S101) or if the HDMI-CEC setting of the TV 2 is disabled (NO in
OPERATION S102), the integrated control unit 13 sets the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT
Flag to 0 (OPERATION S105).

[0071] An operator then operates the TV 2 (OPERATION S106). The operation
of the TV 2 indicates, for example, changing a channel and switching of
the input.

[0072] The integrated control unit 13 determines whether the HotPlugDetect
signal indicates Connect (OPERATION S107). Here, the HotPlugDetect signal
of Connect indicates that the TV 2 is connected to the main body 1,
whereas the HotPlugDetect signal of NotConnect indicates that the TV 2 is
disconnected from the main body 1.

[0073] If the HotPlugDetect signal does not indicate Connect (NO in
OPERATION S107), the screen switching unit 112 sets the display unit 31
of the wireless device 3 as the primary display and displays the PC
operation screen thereon (OPERATION S113). At this time, the screen
switching unit 112 does not control the display unit 21 of the TV 2.

[0074] In contrast, if the HotPlugDetect signal indicates Connect (YES in
OPERATION S107), the screen switching unit 112 determines whether the
screen switching button is pressed (OPERATION S108). If the screen
switching button is not pressed (NO in OPERATION S108), the screen
switching unit 112 stands by until the screen switching button is
pressed. During this period, OPERATIONs S106 and S107 are repeated. If
the screen switching button is pressed (YES in OPERATION S108), the
screen switching unit 112 stores a screen having been displayed on the
display unit 31, thereby holding an operation mode before the switching
(OPERATION S109).

[0075] The screen switching unit 112 then determines whether the
HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag stored by the integrated control unit 13 is equal
to 1 (OPERATION S110). If the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag is equal to 1 (YES in
OPERATION S110), the screen switching unit 112 determines whether the
input of the display unit 21 of the TV 2 is set to the PC operation
screen (OPERATION S111). If the input of the display unit 21 of the TV 2
is set to the PC operation screen (YES in OPERATION S111), the screen
switching unit 112 switches between the primary display and the secondary
display (OPERATION S112). The switching between the primary display and
the secondary display in OPERATION S112 is described in detail below.

[0076] In contrast, if the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag is not equal to 1 (NO in
OPERATION S110), the screen switching unit 112 is unable to receive
information on the input of the display unit 21. Accordingly, the screen
switching unit 112 switches between the primary display and the secondary
display without considering the state of the TV 2 (OPERATION S112). In
this case, however, the input of the display unit 21 may not be set to
the PC operation screen. In such a case, the PC operation screen is not
displayed on the display unit 21.

[0077] Additionally, if the input of the display unit 21 is not set to the
PC operation screen (NO in OPERATION S111), the screen switching unit 112
sets the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3 to the primary display
and displays the PC operation screen thereon (OPERATION S113). At this
time, the screen switching unit 112 does not control the display unit 21
of the TV 2.

[0078] The pointer control unit 111 then sets an operation mode of the
touch panel 35 so that the pointer may move on the touch panel 35 of the
display unit 31 (OPERATION S114).

[0079] The processing for switching between the primary display and the
secondary display in OPERATION S112 of FIG. 7 will now be described in
detail with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the processing
for switching between the primary display and the secondary display.

[0080] The screen switching unit 112 sets the display unit 31 of the
wireless device 3 as the primary display (OPERATION S201). The screen
switching unit 112 also sets the display unit 21 of the TV 2 as the
secondary display (OPERATION S202).

[0081] Furthermore, the screen switching unit 112 displays the PC
operation screen having been displayed on the display unit 21 of the TV 2
on the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3 (OPERATION S203).

[0082] The screen switching unit 112 then determines whether the screen
having been displayed on the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3
before switching is the touch-panel screen (OPERATION S204).

[0083] If the screen having been displayed on the display unit 31 is the
touch-panel screen (YES in OPERATION S204), the screen switching unit 112
forbids displaying of the screen having been displayed on the display
unit 31 of the wireless device 3 on the display unit 21 of the TV 2
(OPERATION S205). The screen switching unit 112 then displays on the
display unit 21 of the TV 2 the PC operation screen that operates in
cooperation with the PC operation screen displayed on the display unit 31
of the wireless device 3 (OPERATION S206).

[0084] If the screen having been displayed on the display unit 31 is not
the touch-panel screen (NO in OPERATION S204), the screen switching unit
112 displays the screen having been displayed on the display unit 31 of
the wireless device 3 on the display unit 21 of the TV 2 (OPERATION
S207).

[0085] The screen switching processing from the second or fourth state to
the first or third state in the information processing apparatus
according to the information processing apparatus according to the
embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a
flowchart of the screen switching processing from the second or fourth
state to the first or third state in the information processing apparatus
according to the first embodiment. Here, a description will be given
based on an assumption that the processing illustrated in FIG. 9 starts
once the states of the display unit 21 and the display unit 31 shift into
the second or fourth state because of the processing illustrated in FIG.
7.

[0086] The integrated control unit 13 has set the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag to
1 or 0 in the processing illustrated in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the
integrated control unit 13 determines whether the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag
is equal to 1 (OPERATION S301). If the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag is equal to
1 (YES in OPERATION S301), the integrated control unit 13 monitors a
command regarding an HDMI-CEC routing (OPERATION S302). In contrast, if
the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag is not equal to 1 (NO in OPERATION S301), the
integrated control unit 13 does not monitor the command regarding the
HDMI-CEC routing.

[0087] An operator then operates the TV 2 (OPERATION S303).

[0088] The screen switching unit 112 determines whether the screen
switching button is pressed (OPERATION S304). If the screen switching
button is not pressed (NO in OPERATION S304), the screen switching unit
112 stands by until the screen switching button is pressed. During that
period, OPERATION S303 is repeated.

[0090] If the HotPlugDetect signal does not indicate Connect (NO in
OPERATION S305), the display control unit 11 displays on the display unit
31 a message saying that switching is not permitted and then terminates
the display switching processing (OPERATION S316).

[0091] In contrast, if the HotPlugDetect signal indicates Connect (YES in
OPERATION S305), the screen switching unit 112 determines whether the
HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag stored by the integrated control unit 13 is equal
to 1 (OPERATION S306). If the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag is not equal to 1 (NO
in OPERATION S306), the display control unit 11 displays a message saying
that switching is not permitted on the display unit 31. The display
control unit 11 then terminates the screen switching processing
(OPERATION S316).

[0092] In contrast, if the HDMI_CEC_SUPPORT Flag is equal to 1 (YES in
OPERATION S306), the screen switching unit 112 receives an HDMI-CEC
command, i.e., "Active Source", from the TV 2 to acquire information of
an apparatus that is currently inputting an image signal to the display
unit 21 (OPERATION S307).

[0093] The screen switching unit 112 determines whether the TV 2 is turned
on and the input of the display unit 21 is set to input from the main
body 1 (OPERATION S308). If the TV 2 is turned off or the input is not
set to the input from the main body 1 (NO in OPERATION S308), the screen
switching unit 112 sets a timeout count value to 15 seconds (OPERATION
S309). The screen switching unit 112 turns on the TV 2 if the TV 2 is
off. If the input of the display unit 21 is not set to the input from the
main body 1, the screen switching unit 112 switches the input of the
display unit 21 to the input from the main body 1 (OPERATION S310).

[0094] The screen switching unit 112 determines whether the TV 2 is turned
on and the input of the display unit 21 is set to the input from the main
body 1 (OPERATION S311). If the TV 2 is turned off or the input is not
set to the input from the main body 1 (NO in OPERATION S311), the screen
switching unit 112 determines whether timeout has occurred (OPERATION
S314). If the timeout has not occurred, the screen switching unit 112
stands by until the TV 2 is turned on and the input is set to the input
from the main body 1. In contrast, if the timeout has occurred (YES in
OPERATION S314), the display control unit 11 displays a message saying
that control of the TV 2 has failed on the display unit 31 (OPERATION
S315) and terminates the screen switching processing.

[0095] In contrast, if it is determined that the TV 2 is turned on and the
input is set to the input from the main body 1 (YES in OPERATION S308 or
YES in OPERATION S311), the screen switching unit 112 shifts the states
of the display unit 21 and the display unit 31 into the stored mode
(OPERATION S312). More specifically, the screen switching unit 112
displays on the display unit 31 the screen matching the stored one having
been displayed on the display unit 31 before switching. The screen
switching unit 112 also displays the PC operation screen on the display
unit 21.

[0096] The pointer control unit 111 sets the operation mode of the touch
panel 35 (OPERATION S313). More specifically, when the touch-panel screen
is displayed on the display unit 31, the pointer control unit 11 controls
the pointer so that the pointer does not move on the display unit 31. At
this time, the display control unit 11 moves an application and the
pointer having been displayed on the display unit 31 to the display unit
21. In contrast, when the PC operation screen is displayed on the display
unit 31, the pointer control unit 111 controls the pointer so that the
pointer may move on the display unit 31.

[0097] As described above, since an operator may switch between the
primary display and the secondary display simply by pressing the screen
switching button, the information processing apparatus according to the
embodiment may switch the screen in response to a simple operation. In
this way, the operability may be improved. Additionally, after switching,
the information processing apparatus may disable displaying of the
touch-panel screen having been displayed on the wireless device before
switching on the TV. Thus, it is prevented to display the touch panel
screen on the TV. In this way, an operation confusion caused by screen
switching may be reduced or prevented.

[0098] Although the above description has been given based on an
assumption that the TV 2 has an HDMI terminal, the information processing
apparatus according to the embodiment may operate even if the TV 2 does
not have the HDMI terminal. In such a case, simplification of the screen
switching and restriction of displaying of the touch-panel screen after
switching may be also realized and the improvement in the operability and
the prevention of the operation confusion may be advantageously provided.

Second Embodiment

[0099]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a system including an information
processing apparatus according to a second embodiment. Additionally, FIG.
11 is a diagram of a hardware configuration of a wireless device
according to the second embodiment. The information processing apparatus
according to the embodiment differs from that according to the first
embodiment in that states of a display unit 21 and a display unit 31 may
be easily returned to initial states. More specifically, the information
processing apparatus according to the embodiment has a function for
easily returning the states of the display unit 21 and the display unit
31 to a first state 501 from any one of second to fourth states
illustrated in FIG. 5. Accordingly, returning to the first state from the
other state will be described below. It is assumed that each unit in FIG.
10 having the same reference used in FIG. 2 has the substantially similar
function unless otherwise noted. Additionally, each unit in FIG. 11
having the same reference used in FIG. 3 has the substantially similar
hardware unless otherwise noted. In the description below, the first
state 501 in FIG. 1 indicates the initial state. Furthermore, the first
state 501, i.e., the initial state, may be referred to as "home".

[0100] A wireless device 3 according to the embodiment includes a return
instruction input unit 36 as illustrated in FIG. 10. The return
instruction input unit 36 has a button for inputting an instruction for
returning to the first state 501 illustrated in FIG. 5. An operator
presses a button of the return instruction input unit 36, whereby the
instruction for returning to the first state 501 is transmitted to a
display control unit 11 and an integrated control unit 13 of the main
body 1. Additionally, the wireless device 3 has an additional hardware
configuration, i.e., a home button 316. The home button 316 is connected
to a button event notifying unit 314. A combination of the home button
316 and the button event notifying unit 314 have a function of the return
instruction input unit 36 illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0101] Once the operator inputs the instruction for returning to the first
state using the return instruction input unit 36, a screen switching unit
112 determines whether the TV 2 is turned on and input of the display
unit 21 is set to input from the main body 1. That is, a screen switching
unit 112 according to the embodiment is an example of a determining unit.
If the TV 2 is turned off, the screen switching unit 112 turns on the TV
2. That is, the screen switching unit 112 according to this embodiment is
an example of a power-on unit. Additionally, when the input of the
display unit 21 is not set to the input from the main body 1, the screen
switching unit 112 transmits to an input switching unit 22 an instruction
for switching the input of the display unit 21 to the input from the main
body 1. That is, a combination of the screen switching unit 112 of the
main body 1 and the input switching unit 22 of the TV 2 according to the
embodiment is an example of an input switching unit. Here, the screen
switching unit 112 terminates processing if a specified timeout time has
elapsed in the power-on of the TV 2 and the switching of the input of the
display unit 21. In this case, the display control unit 11 displays on
the display unit 31 a message indicating that the home button may not be
utilized. For example, the display unit 31 displays a screen illustrated
in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example screen displaying the
message indicating that the home button may not be utilized.

[0102] Once the TV 2 is turned on and the input of the display unit 21 is
set to the input from the main body 1, the screen switching unit 112
changes the display unit 21 and the display unit 31 to a primary display
and a secondary display, respectively. The screen switching unit 112 then
displays a PC operation screen on the display unit 21. The screen
switching unit 112 also displays an application activation screen, i.e.,
a touch-panel screen, on the display unit 31.

[0103] In response to input of the instruction for returning to the first
state 501, a pointer control unit 111 moves a pointer on the display unit
31 to the display unit 21 if the pointer is displayed on the display unit
31. Furthermore, the pointer control unit 111 controls the pointer so
that the pointer does not move on the display unit 31 after the screen
switching.

[0104] The display control unit 11 determines whether an activated
application has been displayed on the display unit 31 before the screen
switching. If the activated application has been displayed on the display
unit 31 before the screen switching, the display control unit 11 moves
the application to the display unit 21.

[0105] Furthermore, it is assumed in this embodiment that the display unit
21 of the TV 2 and the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3 have
substantially rectangular screens as illustrated in FIG. 1. The display
control unit 11 displays a screen so that coordinates on the screen of
the display unit 21 and coordinates on the screen of the display unit 31
are continuous. At this time, the display control unit 11 displays the
screen so that a long-axis-direction coordinate of the screen of the
display unit 31 matches a long-axis-direction coordinate of the screen of
the display unit 21. Furthermore, the display control unit 11 displays
the screen so that a short-axis-direction coordinate on the screen of the
display unit 31 is increased to link the corresponding coordinate on the
screen of the display unit 21. Hereinafter, a direction in which the
short-axis-direction coordinate increases is referred to as an upper
side. More specifically, when the display unit 21 and the display unit 31
are arranged so that the long axis of each of the screens is located in a
horizontally extending direction, the coordinates of the display unit 21
are located on the upper side with respect to the coordinates of the
display unit 31.

[0106] In this way, the display control unit 11 displays the screens so
that positions of the coordinates on the screen of the display unit 21
and the coordinates of the screen of the display unit 31 are fixed and
continuous, thereby being able to make a continuous screen while
maintaining a positional relationship between the screen of the display
unit 21 and the screen of the display unit 31. For example, if an
operator moves a photo in the upper direction of the display unit 31 with
the photo being displayed on the display unit 31 of the wireless device
3, the photo is moved to the display unit 21. The operator may perform
this operation regardless of the position of the wireless device 3. That
is, even if the operator carries the wireless device 3 horizontally or
upside down, the operator moves the photo toward the upper side of the
wireless device 3, thereby being able to move the photo onto the screen
of the TV 2.

[0107] Although the screens are arranged so that the coordinates on the
screen of the display unit 21 are located in the direction that the
short-axis-direction coordinate on the screen of the display unit 31
increases in this embodiment, other arrangements may be used. For
example, the coordinates on the screen of the display unit 21 may be
located in a direction that the short-axis-direction coordinate on the
screen of the display unit 31 decreases, a direction that the
long-axis-direction coordinate on the screen of the display unit 31
increases, or a direction that the long-axis-direction coordinate on the
screen of the display unit 31 decreases.

[0108] Processing performed in response to pressing of the home button
will now be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a flowchart
of the processing performed in response to pressing of the home button.

[0109] The integrated control unit 13 determines whether the HDMI-CEC
setting is enabled in the TV 2 (OPERATION S401). If the HDMI-CEC setting
is enabled (YES in OPERATION S401), the screen switching unit 112
receives an HDMI-CEC command, i.e., Active Source, from the TV 2 to
acquire information on an apparatus that is inputting an image signal to
the display unit 21 (OPERATION S402).

[0110] The screen switching unit 112 determines whether the TV 2 is turned
on and the input of the display unit 21 is set to the input from the main
body 1 (OPERATION S403).

[0111] If the TV 2 is turned off or the input is not set to the input from
the main body 1 (NO in OPERATION S403), the screen switching unit 112
sets a timeout count value to 15 seconds (OPERATION S404). If the TV 2 is
off, the screen switching unit 112 turns on the TV 2. If the input of the
display unit 21 is not set to the input from the main body 1, the screen
switching unit 112 switches the input of the display unit 21 to the input
from the main body 1 (OPERATION S405).

[0112] The screen switching unit 112 determines whether the TV 2 is turned
on and the input of the display unit 21 is set to the input from the main
body 1 (OPERATION S406). If the TV 2 is turned off or the input is not
set to the input from the main body 1 (NO in OPERATION S406), the screen
switching unit 112 determines whether timeout has occurred (OPERATION
S412). If the timeout has not occurred (NO in OPERATION S412), the screen
switching unit 112 stands by until the TV 2 is turned on and the input is
set to the input from the main body 1. In contrast, if the timeout has
occurred (YES in OPERATION S412), the display control unit 11 displays a
message saying that control of the TV 2 has failed on the display unit 31
(OPERATION S413) and terminates the screen switching processing.

[0113] In contrast, if it is determined that the TV 2 is turned on and the
input is set to the input from the main body 1 (YES in OPERATION S403 or
YES in OPERATION S406), the screen switching unit 112 sets the display
unit 21 of the TV 2 as the primary display. The screen switching unit 112
also sets the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3 as the secondary
display (OPERATION S407).

[0114] Additionally, if the HDMI-CEC setting is not enabled (NO in
OPERATION S401), the process proceeds to OPERATION S407. In this case,
control of the TV 2 is not permitted because the HDMI-CEC setting is
disabled. Thus, the screen switching unit 112 switches an image while
ignoring the state of the TV 2.

[0116] If a pointer is displayed on the display unit 31, the pointer
control unit 111 moves the pointer to the display unit 21 and also
controls the pointer so that the pointer does not move to the display
unit 31 after the screen switching, thereby setting an operation mode of
a touch panel (OPERATION S409).

[0117] The display control unit 11 determines whether an activated
application exists on the display unit 31 of the wireless device 3
(OPERATION S410). If the activated application exists on the display unit
31 (YES in OPERATION S410), the display control unit 11 moves the
application activated on the display unit 31 to the display unit 21
(OPERATION S411).

[0118] In contrast, if there is no application activated on the display
unit 31 (NO in OPERATION S410), the display control unit 11 terminates
the screen switching processing.

[0119] As described above, the information processing apparatus according
to the second embodiment may shift each of the display units back to the
first state, i.e., the initial state, in response to pressing of the home
button even if the display units are in any state. In contrast, for
example, when a TV is turned off, an operator turns on the TV, changes
the input to the input from the information processing apparatus to
construct a multi-display environment, and then inputs an instruction for
returning to the initial state in the related art. As described above,
many operations are taken in the related art to returning to the initial
state and processing for returning to the initial state is very
troublesome. In contrast, since the states are automatically returned to
the initial state simply by pressing the home button in the information
processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the state may be
easily returned to the initial state and the operability advantageously
improves.

[0120] Although the description has been given in each of the above
embodiments for the configuration for displaying a screen on the display
unit 31 via wireless connection, the display unit 31 may be connected to
the main body 1 with a cable. In such a case, simplification of a
procedure of the screen switching and restriction of displaying of an
unnecessary screen resulting from the screen switching may be also
realized and an improvement in the operability and prevention of the
operation confusion may be advantageously provided.

[0121] Although the embodiments have been described mainly for an
information processing apparatus and a method of controlling the
information processing apparatus, functions substantially similar to the
above-described embodiments may be realized by executing a previously
prepared information processing program with a computer. Additionally,
the program for controlling the information processing apparatus may be
recorded on a memory, a hard disk, and other computer-readable recording
media provided to the computer and may be read and executed from the
recording media by the computer.

[0122] More specifically, in the embodiments, the program for controlling
the information processing apparatus demonstrating the functions for
executing the above-described various kinds of processing is stored in
the HDD 103 of the main body 1. The CPU 101 reads and executes the
program for controlling the information processing apparatus from the HDD
103. In this way, the program for controlling the information processing
apparatus functions as a process for controlling the information
processing apparatus that executes the above-described various kinds of
processing.

[0123] Additionally, although a TV is used as an example in the
description of each of the above-described embodiments, the information
processing apparatus may be applied to other display devices as long as
the display devices have the HDMI terminal. Furthermore, although the
above description has been given based on an assumption that the TV has
the HDMI terminal, the information processing apparatus may operate if an
input source of a video signal to display devices may be grasped, i.e.,
display devices having a specification equivalent to a HDMI.

[0124] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended
for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the
principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor
to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without
limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although
the embodiment(s) of the present invention(s) has(have) been described in
detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions,
and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.